VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 2 | JUNE 2026
DALTON CORRIDOR LANDS TRANSFERRED TO STATE
vance economic opportunity across Alaska,” Dunleavy said. “We appreci- ate our partnership and collaboration with President Trump that made this transfer possible, and we look forward to putting this corridor to work for the benefit of all Alaskans. President Trump delivered when other presi- dents did not.” May’s transfer marks significant progress on fulfilling Alaska’s state- hood entitlements, a responsibility of the BLM Alaska Land Transfer Pro- gram. With this conveyance, the state has 3.8 million acres remaining of its 105-million-acre entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act, officials not- ed. “For far too long, we have been at a relative standstill on statehood entitle- ments because these critically import- ant lands were off the table,” said BLM Alaska State Director Kevin Pender- gast. “We are proud to make this un- precedented progress with the State of Alaska and look forward to continued
partnership ahead.” As Alaska takes control of these lands, the Alaska Department of Nat- ural Resources will continue its public process to identify and address poten- tial impacts to public access in the area. “This transfer is the result of ex- traordinary work by dedicated DNR staff to secure these long-promised critical infrastructure lands,” said Alaska Department of Natural Re- sources Commissioner-designee John Crowther. “Thanks for our federal partners for effectuating this transfer, and we look forward to stewarding these lands while ensuring Alaskans continue to have access to adjacent federal lands.” The corridor of lands encompasses some of Alaska’s most critical trans- portation and energy assets, including portions of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System corridor, the Dalton Highway and proposed routes for the Ambler Road and Alaska Liquified Natural Gas projects.
May’s transfer marks significant progress on fulfilling Alaska’s statehood entitle- ments, a responsi- bility of the BLM Alaska Land Trans- fer Program. With this conveyance, the state has 3.8 million acres remaining of its 105-million-acre en- titlement under the Alaska Statehood Act.
Lands encompass some of Alaska’s most critical natural resource assets BY FIREWEED STRATEGIES THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR IN EARLY MAY ANNOUNCED A MAJOR ALASKA STATEHOOD LAND TRANSFER TO CONVEY APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION ACRES OF LAND ALONG THE DALTON UTILITY CORRIDOR TO THE STATE OF ALASKA. With conveyance of these lands north of the Yukon River, the Bureau of Land Management “has fulfilled more than 96% of the state’s entitlement under the
million acres of lands within the corridor for selection under the Alaska Statehood Act and to location and entry under pub- lic land and mining laws. That February opening order allowed “top filed” land (i.e., land previously unavailable for state selec- tion but which Alaska sought to acquire) to become valid state selections available for conveyance,” Federal officials said. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who was with Burgum in February to mark the pre- vious land order, lauded completing the transfer of the Dalton Utility Corridor to state ownership. “This milestone represents a leap for- ward in advancing Alaska’s ability to re- sponsibly develop its resources and ad-
Alaska Statehood Act, expanding Alaska’s opportunities for resource development, strengthening local economies and en- hancing the state’s control of its own eco- nomic destiny,” Federal officials said. “This decisive action puts Alaska at the forefront of American energy dominance,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Bur- gum. “President Trump is delivering on his commitment to unleash Alaska’s vast re- sources — advancing the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas project, the Ambler Road and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline — to strengthen our economy, bolster national security and drive down costs for American families.” The transfer comes after Public Land Order No. 7966 opened approximately 2.1
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ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW JUNE 2026
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